Robbie Williams is planning to release a new album later this year after he recently secured a deal with Sony's Columbia Records

The 'Angels' hitmaker has announced plans to drop his eleventh LP after securing a brand new deal with Sony's Columbia Records at the beginning of last week.

Taking to his Twitter account on Sunday night (08.05.16), the handsome singer wrote: "Managed to keep this secret for a whole week: I'm working on my new album with @SonyMusicUK x #excited #newalbum (sic)"

He then added an in-depth message to his official website, in which he praised the team at Sony - which looks after the likes of Calvin Harris, Foo Fighters and Beyoncé - for helping him kickstart his creative juices once again after he recently left Island Universal following two album releases.

He said: "The team at Sony are professional, incredibly hungry, and have a great energy. They're inspired, I'm inspired. I'm more ready than I ever have been and I'm totally convinced I'm in the right place. I look forward to working on this album, which is an album I'm immensely proud of, in this exciting new partnership with Sony Music."

Meanwhile, this year looks set to be a busy one for Robbie, 42, as he's currently working with his former Take That bandmates - Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald - to write and record a number of tracks for their Greatest Hits album, which will be released next year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group.

Robbie - who first quit the band in 1995 - previously rejoined the group in 2010, featuring on their 'Progress' album and joining them for the 'Progress Live' tour.

He left again in 2012 but his bandmates are reportedly keen to have him back in the group at any time.